Strong aftershock destroys 70,000 homes and leaves another 200,000 in danger of collapse

Yes, you heard that right. Just when we thought it was all over, another one has struck. This was the strongest aftershock since the deadly quake, but for such a strong aftershock (6.4 on the Richter scale) which managed to topple 70,000 houses and leave anothor 200,000 in danger of collapse, the death toll was pretty low at two and another several hundred more injured. Our friend, Jane Voodikon, editor of Chengdoo magazine informs us this has come at a time when people were finally “kind of not panicking” and starting to get back to their normal lives. But one aftershock, and they have all been sent running out of buildings once again. Running out of buildings on such a frequent basis must be a traumatising experience.From AFP:

The quake — which struck mid-afternoon and was centred about 250 kilometres (155 miles) northeast ofChengdu — sent people fleeing from buildings in the provincial capital, AFP correspondents witnessed.“Houses started to shake and everybody went out into the street,” Chengdu resident Lou Taiyi told AFP.“We were thinking (May 12) was behind us but it is continuing,” he said.However, residents soon began filtering back inside soon after the quake, with many taking it in stride.“I am not afraid. We are getting used to it,” a young woman, walking down a Chengdu street with two female friends, told AFP.

AFP cites the official death toll at 62,664, with another 23,775 listed as missing. Expect the death toll to climb quickly as bodies are recovered from the rubble over the next few days.In one rare bright spark, an 80 year old man (partially paralysed before the quake) has been rescued unharmed 11 days after the earthquake! He was kept alive by his wife who provided him with food and water through a hole in the rubble.